Free Speech

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by CalebD

Smacky,
You should go back and delete 50% or more of your posts here (JK) as you are over the top or below the bottom most of the time.
BTW, HermitScott has a Catalina 30' in Texas on the Gulf and you should be trying to be his friend and get a ride with him on his boat, but no.
I have actually gotten a ride on more then one members boat by trying to helpful, thoughtful and generous while leaving politics and religion out of it. We should talk about this if you are actually coming to NY and I hope that you do and can get out on a boat while you are here.
Can you tackle the 'beast' within you? I doubt it! I sure can't. Everyone seems to have a calling which they must follow.
Back to your regularly scheduled 'pissing match'...

Caleb,

Here's my speech. And you don't have to pay a dime for it. It's free.

First off, I will definitely be in the City from June 16-23. No doubt. Reservations are made, flights booked, hookers lined up...done deal. And I truly hope to meet you, Bubb, Wuff, Bene and anyone else that would like to be there. Who knows? I may be on so many ignore lists that I show up to an empty pub. But I'll be there. And we can talk about that "beast". I would sincerely like that.

Now - to that end, granted I'm no forum angel. I'll give you that for sure. But let me try to clarify a couple of things to show you how I think in all this...right or wrong. This is a Sailing Forum. And, just as on most forum sites, those tend to migrate toward somewhat polar ends. In other words, there is Sailing. And there is Forum.

Personally, I came here for Sailing. The idea of it. The adventure of it. The fun of it. And, contrary to what many say, I've spent a great deal of time here (maybe 50+% as you say - and greatly increasing as of late) talking about it through many, many threads - trying to sway people toward that excitement and getting great advice and camaraderie around the idea of big sailing while providing a few chuckles. It's been great.

I've been painted as someone who contributes nothing around here. And, granted, I've not been able to help people out with their thru-hulls, or zinc selections, or battery sizing. But, I do think I've pumped a little excitement into the whole sailing side of things through BFS, Sacrilege, HWS, etc. Furthermore, there are a few people behind the scenes that can vouch for the fact that I'm not just mouth about these things (including a certain kid in Portugal). I love BFS sailing. I love talking about it. I love doing it. It's the best freakin' thing on the planet.

As for sailing with other people on their boats. Honestly, that's not really my goal here. So I don't want to tailor my behavior toward that end. That would be fake for me. Yes, it's an honor when I'm invited by the likes of Bene and George and Bubb and Chall to sail with them (in spite of my antics) - but it's not the goal. Also, it's a huge honor when someone like CharlieCobra comes to town, takes me out on my boat, and teaches me more in 2 hours than I've learned in a year. These are guys that have the same crazy love of sailing that I do. It's about the sailing. Not etiquette.

And that brings us to the Forum side of things. The etiquette. This has been the other 50% of my posting...being rather sarcastic and incendiary at times about how this forum "community" has worked in the past. Though it's calmed down quite a bit recently, for almost the entire year I've been here it was a place where outspoken people got group-jumped for "being out of line". Where poor spelling put a target on your back. Where being the newbie that commented on an old thread would get 4 guys jumping down your throat and making you feel stupid. Where unless a suspected vendor crossed every conceivable "t" and dotted every conceivable "i" before posting - was summarily group trounced based on pure suspicion and some weird, self-appointed "mandate" to "protect the community". Where people would then ask why vendors were so "afraid" to come on here and discuss this or that. Where forum rules get very squishy depending on who you are and how long you've been here. Where the immediate assumption is that differing voices are simply idiots and trolls. Where technical knowledge trumps everything else. Where you have to "earn" some "seat" at some "table". Where behind-the-scenes manipulation gets wildly ridiculous.

Yes, I've spent A LOT of time involved in the above. But, I invite you to take a look at how I've been involved. I think this kind of stuff is silly. It's human nature, sure. But it's silly. And I suppose I could have politely pointed things out and shut up about it and ignored it. That would have made a lot of people happy. But, in the words of one the greatest philosophers of our time, Pee Wee Herman, "I'm a loner Dottie. A rebel!" I enjoy fighting fire with fire. I like saying exactly what I think and taking the heat for it if it's out of line...and blowing off the vitriol I get when it's exactly on target. I'll fight this kind of stuff every chance I get; not because I'm trying to protect any group of people or make the community into some kind of image I have - but simply because this kind of behavior is funny stuff, ripe for ridicule. And that's my thang. My "beast".

That said, I definitely am not immune to crossing the line. For example, one of the things I've said in the past that was wrong was actually with you. I harshed you a long time ago during the FC days for your avatar. I kind of did it behind your back in FC. That wasn't cool. That was exactly the kind of thing that's silly...and wrong. So, when we have a beer together next month...I'll look you in the eye and apologize. And then I'll immediately make some snarky comment or belch loudly to make the moment pass as quickly as possible. But I owe you dude.

There are people around here and on other sites that paint me as "bad for the community", a "twit", and, my favorite, a "sh*t stirrer" (which is hilarious because they seem to be admitting that they are perfectly comfortable floating in their excrement and get upset when I stir it?). Anyway, I ain't that bad in REAL LIFE. Just ask CharlieCobra. He'll vouch.

I hope to see you in NY, dude. I'm buyin'.

Smack

(PS - To illustrate how well SNOT - SN Off Topic - works and how focused on sailing I've been lately...I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW about this whole CCP thing. Me! Some war going down in OT, and I'm talking about racing! See - it's not that hard to "ignore" stuff without using the ignore button. Good job mods.)

[sailaway21]

...passing with some difficulty the metamorphosis of Smacky into a beautiful butterfly of comity.....

Mr. George Will on freedom of speech from this morning's paper.
RealClearPolitics - End Run on Free Speech

One will see therein that there is always someone out there, with seemingly real concerns, willing to restrict your freedom of speech, for the greater good (as they see it), of course.

Our Canadian members should try to keep an open mind about things rather than bringing disparagement upon themselves by mouthing tired old bromides. While we know that Canadians do not enjoy the same constitutional protected rights that we Americans do, we know that they like to think they do and so their concern over these various matters is wholly as valid as our own. What do I mean about open-mindedness on these matters? I'll relate it to my earlier thoughts on airline flight. While reading a well known Canadian author's book on demographics and current world affairs, I came across a statement detailing our American compact with the government that we would surrender some of our core liberty in return for the government providing safety and security during airline flights. I confess that I'd not really viewed it in that manner before, as I suspect most Americans never have. It certainly changed my opinion on the events of 9/11. It certainly fit in with my memories of the feds blackmailing the states into a 55 mph speed limit in an effort to reduce gasoline consumption, an action that did little in that department but made us a nation of speeders and enriched the various state treasuries in the process.

The beauty of having such a document as our Constitution is that we have a very valuable reference point that has been tested, sorely tested, by time and experience. When we observe actions that seem to violate it's principles we should take more than a passing notice as, in most cases, the proposed cure that violates is usually worse than the problem it means to address.

Thus I will defend CCP's right to post whatever damn fool thing she wishes to, as well as the divisive clapdoodle provided by our resident troll, Smacky. It hardly means that I care for any of it, and in both cases I feel it mine and other's duty to quash it by force of argument or, failing that, disparagement.

a side note....Smacky...as one with an, on occasion, abrasive personality let me assure you that people do not see how you are inside and while it may well be a very good inside, all they have to go on is the printed word and your actions. Those things alone can result in their developing an intense apathy towards any knowledge of your inner self, or more exposure to your outer appearance. If one desires to not have the reputation of a troll or a bomb thrower, the best way to change those perceptions is to begin to not be a troll or a bomb thrower. Given that it seems to be an ingrained part of your personality, I'd offer that there is no better time to start to institute change than today, given the magnitude of self-inspection and restraint required to actually change that behavior, and thus the perception.

[smackdaddy]

Aww man, I thought you would actually be able to resist. The temptation is just too great huh? I feel ya bro.

Okay, you have to strive to absorb one very, very important aspect into that metaphysical construct you employ from the mountain top...and it actually comes in a handy-dandy triad!

1. Who's the target of the smack (what you call "trolling")?
2. Was the target's comment or action truly worthy of smacking?
3. Did the smacker confine the smacking to 2?

The cool thing here is that you don't need to know my heart of hearts to judge me. Indeed, you can simply look at my words. And if you do so, and if you judge those words by the triad above - why, then you get something.

Now, obviously, you've been somewhat of a 1 in the past. But let's face it - it's been so because you've thrown down some pretty admirable and worthy 2.

So, of course, you're gonna call me a troll. Because you can't ever admit that you were...2. Worthy. It has to be all about me being a troll. Nothing else. You can't be at fault.

And, yes, you're always willing to give me a chance at redemption (after calling me some very impressive names of your own). You give me a chance to apologize and play by your rules. Ahhhhhh...but that's the rub. Your rules. Back to 2.

So, in the court of righteous opinion, there is actually only one thing that makes me a troll....or something else. And that is...am I in any way justified in 2?

I hate to break it to you - but I've gotten some pretty good feedback on that particular item.

Then we come to 3. Ahh, 3! Even if I get 2 right, I can still cross the line into trollville by blowing this one. So let's have a quick look...

The above is a fine example of 3. I responded to Caleb - and I've responded to you. And, at AS, I also responded to Cam (who's promised he's ignoriong me) when he came to FC to throwdown some smack. Of course, you guys call me a troll. But you might want to re-think that moniker too - because that implies action. Responding is a RE-action. See, I really haven't smacked much lately. Just when asked. Unfortunately, you guys really like to ask. You just can't seem to help it.

Now - I trust you'll note that the above is argument - not disparagement. You on the other hand have been turning to the latter quite a bit lately. Which should give you some pause based on your own equation above.

Look, Sway - despite your threats of bodily harm on my person in ASOT - I still would pull you out of the drink if you were in it - and I'd even buy you a beer afterward. Honestly. I just don't agree with you most of the time. And I think you can be a little snooty. That's all. Apart from that - this is just the Internet. It's all good.

Have a good Memorial Day dude.

Smack

BTW - Sambuca is now quoting you at Stuff. I don't know if you have your diatribes copyrighted - but you could probably start making some righteous coin off the guy. It's almost like he's some sock puppet for "the fallen". Entertaining though.

[camaraderie]

Hey Sway...so much for that delicious carmel creme center you thought might be there inside somewhere. Coulda told you that the center of anything wrapped in crap still tastes like crap.

[smackdaddy]

Heh-heh. See what I mean? You guys just can't help yourselves. Didn't I just wish you a happy holiday in ASOT Cam?

Anyway - it's nougat, dude!

[sailaway21]

Same old d-b, why am I not surprised?

As the moral sheriff of the sailing internet, I'm sure Smack can handle any copyright violations over on stuffers...it''s right up his alley.

[sailhog]

Apparently free speech is something only a select few of us enjoy on this forum. Oh, you want an example? Well, Cam can say the following about me:

"Sailhog, what happened in the flop house above 42nd St. will forever remain one of the most repugnant memories of my professional life as a prostitute. I was drunk, but apparently not drunk enough. My experience with you was utterly revolting. You smell bad, you're way too eager, and your pecker is the size of an acorn. Did you know that you fart in your sleep? The whole experience has caused me to reconsider my life as a prostitute. In any case, I'm firing you as a client. Please do not contact me again."

So Cam can say this about me, and nobody says JACK SQUAT! But the moment I describe my last colonoscopy in vivid detail, the Wombat and Pollard are all over me! Some free speech!